Explore Tour Leader who is a qualified mountain leader plus driver(s).
Overview
Overview
Walking in the Mont Blanc massif Chamonix and the surrounding mountains offer superb walking with outstanding views. The massif is home to high Alpine peaks, huge glaciers, glacial-fed streams and meadows full of colourful Alpine flowers. Following well-maintained paths - many of them part of the famous Tour du Mont Blanc - we take day-walks into the mountains returning each evening to the comfort of our chalet.
Explore also operate the demi Mont Blanc Trek (code MB): a one-week mainly chalet based holiday that completes the half circuit around the Mont Blanc massif. For the full circuit, Explore operate the Tour du Mont Blanc (code MBT): a 12 day holiday staying in comfortable hotels and auberges.
Breathtaking scenery Our day-walks take us to high Alpine meadows, minor summits, mountain passes and Alpine lakes. There are breathtaking panoramic views, welcome mountain cafés and abundant animal life: throughout the trip you should see chamois, ibex, marmots and birds of prey. Chamonix also offers a huge range of optional activities such as paragliding, cycling, rafting, rock climbing and glacier trekking.
Chamonix and the chalet The chalet has been renovated with well-appointed rooms, modern bathrooms and a large dining room. Ideally located at Argentiere in the Chamonix valley, it offers the perfect place from which to explore the area. Chamonix has lots of good restaurants, shops and plenty of pavement cafés from where you can admire the views of Mont Blanc.
Details may vary depending on departure date. Please choose
Arriving at GenevaAirport we transfer 1.5 hrs to our Chalet in Argentiere (1250m) in the ChamonixValley. There are spectacular views of the valley and the Mont Blanc range.
Overnight Hotel (Standard)Included meals: Dinner
Day 2:
Aiguillette des Posettes and Col de Balme
We take a 5-minute bus ride to Tre-le-Champ (1417m) and head up through a pretty larch forest and then open ground along a broad ridge to the Aiguillette des Posettes (2201m). Following the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) we have superb views of the whole Chamonix Valley and peaks including Les Drus, Aiguille Verte, Aiguille du Chardonnet and Mont Blanc. We then descend to the Col des Posettes (1997m) - in early summer the meadows are awash with colourful Alpine flowers - and through the thick forest to Vallorcine (1260m). From here we take the short bus or train trip back to the chalet.
Approx distance 10 km, Ascent 800m, Descent 940m
Overnight Hotel (Standard)Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3:
Le Grand Balcon Sud
We take the bus to Chamonix and the tele-cabin lift to Plan Praz (1999m). Today is an easier day hiking below the Aiguilles Rouges ridge and following a well-established trial through forest and over small screes. From this part of the TMB – Le Grand Balcon Sud – we have views of the whole Mont Blanc Massif and the ChamonixValley below. At the Chalet de la Flegere (1871m) we descend through a lovely forest to our chalet. Dinner will be at a restaurant in Argentiere.
Approx distance 8 km, Ascent 0m, Descent 750m
Overnight Hotel (Standard)Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4:
Switzerland & Lac d’Emosson
A 20-minute ride on a mountain train brings us to Le Buet (1330m) – a small village in a green and tranquil valley. We walk to the meadows at the Chalet de Loriaz (2020m) and then contour high above the main valley to Emosson Dam (1920m). The Swiss dam is an incredible site and behind the lake are lots of peaks. To the south we can see the whole Mont Blanc range in the distance. We return by a different route and take the train back to the chalet.
Approx distance 10-12 km, Ascent 600m, Descent 660m
Overnight Hotel (Standard)Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5:
Free day
Today you can relax at the chalet, go into town, take a walk or take part in some optional activities. Activities include a ride up the spectacular cable car to the Aiguille du Midi at 3842m for arguably the finest view in the Alps. At this height you are among the great Alpine peaks and glaciers with unimpeded views from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn almost 100km away. Other activities include rock climbing, cycling, rafting and visiting Chamonix’s Alpine museum. You can take dinner in Chamonix or Argentiere this evening.
Overnight Hotel (Standard)Included meals: Breakfast
Day 6:
Les Houches and Les Contamines
We transfer to Les Houches - a small town at the far end of the ChamonixValley - from where we climb to the Col de Voza (1653m). Following the main TMB, the trail leads around the western side of Mont Blanc and gives us a totally different view - the spectacular west face of the mountain. We visit the tiny village of Bionnassay and continue on to Les Contamines (1170m) passing small hamlets and isolated farm houses. We transfer back to the chalet in approximately 50 minutes.
Approx distance 12 km, Ascent 730m, Descent 720m
Overnight Hotel (Standard)Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7:
Lac Blanc & the Mont Blanc massif
We make our way up through larch and fir forest until we reach the beautiful Lac de Cheserys (2133m). The area is home to Ibex and these are sometimes seen near the main trail. As we climb, we are rewarded with increasingly better views of the whole Mont Blanc range and the great glaciers that descend towards the Chamonix valley. En-route we will stop for lunch and maybe spot marmots or chamois which live at these higher altitudes. Our goal is Lac Blanc (2350m), justifiably regarded as one of the most beautiful places in the Alps; the walk takes 4 hours. The descent is via a different route and for those with sore knees there is a cable-car to the valley floor.
Approx distance 10-12 km, Ascent 940m, Descent 1100m
Overnight Hotel (Standard)Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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